Kasanel dorayaki ice cream roll adds matcha flavor; launches Showa Era parody commercials
A small pancake filled with red bean paste, dorayaki is one of those iconic Japanese traditional sweets. A staple of Japanese sweets shops, and a…
Made in Japan
Ultimate Humane Act in Wartime: The Story of the Unknown Japanese Boy Scout Soldier
Robert D. Eldridge, PhD, for JAPAN Forward More than 75 years ago, on one of the islands Japanese and U.S. forces battled over during World…
Popular YouTuber Yun oversees line of scented moisturizing alcohol-based hand gels
From September 15th, 2020, Direct Tech Co., Ltd. will release a line of scented moisturizing alcohol-based hand gels called “Liypaint.” The line is supervised by…
Artist crafts amazing miniature pop-up book dollhouse of Japanese demons
Yokai is the term for demons, sprites, ghosts, and all other supernatural apparitions of Japanese folklore. They can be neutral, malevolent, and sometimes even kind…
Japanese shrine meticulously recreates grounds in Animal Crossing—and it’s open for visits
A Japanese shrine in Tokyo has been recreated complete with festival activities and decorations on the popular Nintendo Switch game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Players…
Royce’ releases a new crop of chocolate-coated chips featuring delicious Hokkaido new potatoes
Royce’ is synonymous with delicious chocolate in Japan, and famous for its chocolate truffles, otherwise known as “raw chocolate.” They’ve sold chocolate-coated potato chips before,…
Fire Force teams up with Roll Ice Cream Factory on limited collaboration menu
Fire and ice. The two may be polar opposites but as the saying goes, opposites attract. Here’s a good example. Roll Ice Cream factory is…
Who Gives Up Their Seat on a Crowded Train?
Grape held its essay contest grape Award 2020 this year from May to August. Contestants could write about one of two themes; heart-stirring or heart-stirring…
Can Japanese men warm up to parasols as a way to beat the heat?
Japanese summers are muggy and brutal, and 2020 was no exception. Natsubate 夏バテ, summertime fatigue, is a real problem as the subtropical island nation’s humidity…
![Touching story of a girl who learns to view her disability in a new way [manga]](https://grapeejapan.com/wp-content/uploads/wheelchair_finished-768x576.jpg)
Touching story of a girl who learns to view her disability in a new way [manga]
Japan can be a rough place for people with disabilities. Spend some time trekking through off-the-beaten-path train stations, and you’ll likely notice an abundance of…
Toyota-backed SkyDrive successfully tests drone-like car. Are flying cars finally coming?
We’ve been waiting for flying cars for quite some time. The original Blade Runner, circa 1982, depicted flying cars incorporating seamlessly into the post-apocalyptic world…
Miniature Life exhibition shows whimsical uses of everyday items by a Japanese artist
Tatsuya Tanaka is a Japanese artist that’s an expert at looking at small things and creating a whole world out of them. The miniature artist…
“Virtual Tokyo Tower” lets you experience a highly futuristic version of the tower in VR
Completed in 1958, the Tokyo Tower represented the state of mind that Japan was holding on to at the time. The country was going through…
SEGA Toys announces 36 classic arcade games you can play at home with new Astro City Mini
Whether they were butting heads during an intense match of a fighting game or mashing buttons to kill the final level boss, there’s a whole…
![Store Clerk Gives Retiree New Outlook on Life [manga]](https://grapeejapan.com/wp-content/uploads/manga-header-2-768x576.jpg)
Store Clerk Gives Retiree New Outlook on Life [manga]
For someone as young as me, 29 years old to be exact, retirement feels like a long way off. It’s hard for me to even…